Dorcas James Spencer

Dorcas James Spencer (, Barber; January 7, 1841 – May 2, 1933) was an American temperance activist, writer, and advocate for Native American rights. Spencer served as President of the California State's W.C.T.U. (1894–97; 1904–06).

Early life Dorcas James Barber was born in Hopkinton, Rhode Island, on January 7, 1841. Her parents were Joseph Tillinghast Barber (1802-1875) and Nancy (née, James) Barber (1808-1884). Dorcas had several older siblings including: George, Charles, Phebe, Joseph, Gardiner, and Edward.

She was continuously engaged in the temperance movement from its inception, having filled various responsible positions, becoming a specialist in several lines and proficient in many. Spencer was the first secretary of the first local Woman's Christian Temperance Union (W.C.T.U.) in California (Grass Valley, 1874) and the first State Organizer (1886). and centered around Spencer.

As National superintendent of work among Indians, Spencer felt a strong bond between her department and the National W.C.T.U.'s department of Missionary Societies, and her volunteer service was highly valued by this department. At the Seventh Convention of the World's W.C.T.U. (Boston, 1906), Spencer spoke on the topic of "Protection of Native Races".

Spencer advocated for establishing schools on Indian reservations. They had six children: Annie, William, Charles, Gardner, Frederick, and Franklin.

Dorcas J. Spencer died in Berkeley, California, on May 2, 1933, at the age of 94.

Selected works Books

A history of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union of Northern and Central California, 1911 (text) Billy (a novel)

Articles "Nationalization of the Liquor Traffic", 1894 (text) "What Shall We Do for the Indians?", 190? (text) "The Indian Problem", 190? (text) "Hints and Helps for Work Among the Indians", 190? (text) "Cornplanter: A Seneca Chief", 190? (text) "A Cry of Mother Love from the Depths", 190? (text) "Indians and Prohibition", 1916 (text) "Birth Control: Morality and Habits of a Primitive Race", 1918 (text)